Academic Terminology

What is a postdoc? What is the difference between a fellowship, scholarship, and grant?​​ Who and what is a "PI?" Qualifying exam???

There is a lot of confusing terminology used in higher education, and no one is born knowing these things! We all had to learn over time through exposure, but often, you are expected to know many of these things ahead of time. Let’s navigate it together!

Here is a short list of frequently used terms in academia. Take a look and ask one of us if there is something else you'd like to know. And remember, there are no silly questions because we all have to learn somehow (& every single person started somewhere.)

Postdoc

A postdoc, or postdoctoral researcher, is a person who has successfully defended their Ph.D. thesis. Now that they are a doctor and finished with their Ph.D., those who want to work in academia (and one day become a professor or have their own lab) can do one or several postdocs where they work closely with a PI and continue independent research. Some postdocs even teach courses and mentor students in the lab as well.

Fellowship, Grants, & Scholarships

These are all different types of funding that are amazing for you all to apply to at any stage in your career. They look great on a CV or resume and also increase the likelihood that you will be successful with future funding applications.

  • Fellowship: an award given to a student that often pays for living expenses and sometimes other expenses. 

  • Grant: a sum of money often only usable for research and not living expenses (exceptions: need based grants like Pell Grants can be used for living expenses.)

  • Scholarship: an award that dispenses funds usable for personal or school expenses.

Stipend

A stipend is a set amount of money offered to students to assist with personal and living expenses. In graduate school, for example, many programs at the Ph.D. level are fully funded, meaning you get your tuition paid for and a stipend that helps you pay for personal and living expenses. The stipend is often in exchange for working as a TA (teaching assistant) or RA (research assistant) for graduate students unless that student has a fellowship that pays for their living expenses.

Principal Investigator (PI)

A PI--often used interchangeably with “advisor” or “major professor”--is a person who was awarded funding (an independent grant) to conduct and oversee independent research projects. They are the lead researcher on the project and are responsible for the oversight, preparation, and conduct of the research. This is the person you will contact when you are interested in joining a research lab in academia.

Advisor

An advisor in graduate school is often the head of your lab or research group who helps keep you on track in your research and academic success. Ideally, students meet frequently (sometimes weekly) with their advisor and discuss the progress you've made each week or seek advice on your research ideas, techniques, etc.

Student Loan

A student loan is borrowed money from the government or a private lender that can support your living expenses, personal expenses, and tuition. Unlike grants or fellowships, which are "free money" that you do not have to repay, you do have to pay back the student loans you borrow, plus interest (a percentage of the total sum of money borrowed that gets added on to your bill every month!) This is important to consider when you are borrowing money because you want to be sure you will have a job or salary in the future where you can successfully pay off the loans you've taken out. It is so important to look at the interest rates for your loans too and be wary of private lenders (i.e. Sallie Mae) whose interest rates are very high. Please reach out to a mentor if you have questions about applying for student loans. Many of us do not have the ability to pay for college ourselves, so student loans are a helpful resource but it shouldn't be taken lightly as there are many consequences down the road if you cannot afford to pay them back. Federal loans (those awarded through FAFSA through the government) are usually much lower in interest rates than private lenders (like Sallie Mae). It is important to note that if you are the recipient of a fellowship, you are often excluded from being able to apply for FAFSA and federal loans.

To apply for federal student loans each year in college or graduate school, you can go to the FAFSA webpage at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)

A graduate student research (GSR) conducts research related to the student’s degree program or research unit under the direction of an authorized principal investigator. These positions are paid through a compensation plan (either taxed salary or untaxed stipend) based on your percentage time. They may include tuition and fee remission. A GSR position may even include you collaborating in the publication of research! Duties under a GSR are context-dependent, but it could be doing a literature review, organizing and analyzing raw data, etc. Figuring out if a GSR position is available in your program is a great way to cover a quarter/semester or two of graduate school!

Application Essays

There are different types of written documents that are required for any application. This depends on the program you are applying to and will showcase a different strength to your application.

  • The Personal Statement will furthermost talk about your current and future goals pertaining to the program you’re applying to in addition to your personal motivation to reach your goals. The Personal statement will include your background, life experiences, or challenges that are unique to you.

  • The Statement of Purpose will emphasize your contribution to the field/lab/program you are applying to and how the specific graduate program will help you achieve your professional goals.

  • The Research Statement may be the most important document if you can showcase your academic + research experience in an upwards trajectory of learning and growth. Here you can show your accomplishments including any scientific presentations, scientific awards, internships, fellowships, and publications. Be as detailed to your understanding of your project + the bigger picture and experiences as possible, especially if you overcame a scientific hurdle or setback in research.

  • Many programs are including the Diversity Statement, which its goals are designed to be two-fold: provide your experience as an underrepresented minority in STEM, including any cultural, ethnic, economic, identity, or educational background that is not seen represented in STEM plus consider your role in the program to contribute to a more diverse community (think: any contribution to mentoring other minority students in academic or research settings, any outreach experiences to improve scientific knowledge to the general public, high schools, etc.).

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers are vouchers or coupons to apply when you finish your application to a program that has an application fee. They are an excellent way to reach students who otherwise cannot afford to apply for higher education in STEM or other fields. Most of the Diversity and Inclusion Directors have fee waivers, and you can get them by asking via phone or email directly. We suggest requesting these fee waivers as soon as you are confident that you are applying to that program, which can be done as early as August of that cycle. The closer you are to the application deadline, the least likely it will be that there are fee waivers available.

MORE COMING SOON!